Musical pairing – Celebration by Kool & The Gang
Easter came late this year and Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby and Mother’s Day all happen this week . . . oh and add college graduations in there and I’d say we have a very full dance card . . .
Past Mother’s Days usually meant going to my mother’s house and taking a dish to add to her menu; sometimes it meant going out to dinner at a restaurant. When The Professor and I got married, we would prepare a menu of comfort-food dishes and host the shindig. If the weather was nice, we’d sit outdoors and visit; if the weather wasn’t cooperating (and most often it didn’t), we’d be indoors. And every year stories were told and loads of laughter shared . . .
My family is spread out over the West Coast so getting together isn’t feasible and in the 13 years The Professor and I have been married, the nieces and nephew have grown into young adults whose lives are quite social, so coordinating the comings and goings of everyone’s super busy schedules requires the skills of an eight-legged octopus! We can’t all be together for Mother’s Day this year . . . but if we were going to host a Mother’s Day bash, this Asparagus Tart would make an appearance.
Other than blanching the prettiest asparagus you can find, all the other components are simple, yet delicious and come together in a matter of minutes. I made my own pie crust, but feel free to use a good quality readymade one if you’d prefer. I’ve added prosciutto to mine but crispy bacon or pancetta would work as well or leave off the meat entirely for a vegetarian option.
I’ve listed this as an appetizer but add a nice tossed salad and you have a nice light lunch or dinner. I think this is pretty darn perfect for anything you might be celebrating!
Oh, and don’t panic at the length of the recipe; I’ve simply broken this out into segments – 30 minutes total baking time on the crust and while it’s baking the rest of the tart comes together!
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ASPARAGUS TART
Slightly Adapted from Martha Stewart
INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE TART:
- 8 ounces fresh asparagus, trimmed
- 1 pound absolute best-quality ricotta (homemade ricotta is even better)
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed or grated
- 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1 lemon, both the grated zest and juice from 1/2 of lemon
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 thin slices prosciutto OR ½ cup crispy bacon lardons (meat is optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE PATE BRISSEE
Makes 2 single crusts or 1 double crust
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt
- 2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- ¼ to ½ cup ice water
Need help making a pie crust? Click here for a video tutorial!
METHOD:
MAKE THE RICOTTA MIXTURE
- Add ricotta, garlic, herbs, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper in a bowl; blend together and set aside.
MAKE THE PATE BRISSEE
- Pulse flour, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles course meal, about 10 seconds. Drizzle ¼ cup ice water evenly over mixture. Pulse until mixture just begins to hold together (dough should not be wet or sticky). If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 Tablespoon at a time and pulse.
- Shape dough into 2 disks and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. SMITH BITES NOTE: You will only use 1 disk; wrap tightly and save for another use or freeze for up to 3 months.
MAKE THE TART:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Roll out 1 disk pate brisee on a lightly floured surface to a 10-by-15-inch rectangle tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim excess dough flush with edges of pan by rolling your pin across the top of the tart pan. The sharpness of the edge of the pan will cut the dough evenly; or you can use a sharp paring knife to trim.
- Prick bottom all over with a fork.
- Refrigerator for 15 minutes; do not skip this step as it’s important the crust be chilled before baking to ensure a light and flaky crust.
- Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath.
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
- Cook asparagus until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove with tongs or drain in a colander and immediately transfer to salted ice-water bath
- Let stand for 1 minute to stop the cooking process. Drain.
- Slice each spear in half lengthwise.
- Line dough with parchment, and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
- Bake until edges are just golden, about 20-25 minutes.
- Remove pie weights (dried beans or rice work too), and bake until tart shell is golden brown and cooked through, about an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Spread the herbed ricotta mixture over tart shell while still warm.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with asparagus (I alternate top and bottom so that you have asparagus tips on both ends), and drape prosciutto over top.
- Drizzle with olive oil. Season with a bit of salt and pepper; serve immediately.
You might also like:
Gluten-Free Tomato Tart – Gluten Free Girl
Cabbage and Caramelized Onion Tart – A Thought For Food
Whipped Lime Cream Tart – Life’s A Feast
Fruit Tarts – Grace’s Sweet Life
Apple Tarte Tatin – Cake Duchess
Oh my goodness, how pretty! I’d definitely love it as a light lunch with a nice green salad.
This looks delicious!!
That’s more like a work of art, totally beautiful 🙂
My own mother said she was “booked” this year for Mother’s Day, so I had to take her out a day early. (Can you believe she said she was taking a photography class in the park and needed to “brush up” on Photoshop?) Even I don’t even know how to use Photoshop!!!! Getting schooled by my mother is pretty embarrassing… so perhaps I’ll just show up on her doorstep with an asparagus tart. Yours is beautiful, and absolutely appropriate for the season.
A belated Happy Mother’s Day to you!
[K]
That looks so gorgeous and spring-like! Love the combination of asparagus and ricotta – delicious!
Asparagus and prosciutto, a lovely flavor combo. It is definitely celebratory!
What a beautiful tart, and I love that it has a ricotta filling.
I love asparagus and this looks so darn good. Been looking for recipes to change things up abit. Perfect!
That looks like edible art! *swoon*
Absolutely stunning and I’m certain just as fabulous as it looks!
I’m loving all the different asparagus tarts I’m seeing. This recipe looks marvelous. Will be trying this, but after I make Cristina’s orange asparagus tart. So much asparagus, so little time. 🙂
This looks SO perfect for spring!
Well that just looks gorgeous! Why don’t you bring that over for brunch on Sunday with the Prof?
My mouth is literally watering. I won’t be satsfied until I’ve tried this!!!
What a gorgeous tart!! Love how beautiful your bright green asparagus is too, just lovely 🙂
This looks perfect! I might even be able to get my kids to eat it too..they love asparagus! 🙂
It’s not only beautiful, but it’s perfect for Spring, Mothers Day, Brunch, or whatever! What a great tart!
That is beautiful! I would love to indulge in it for Mother’s Day!
You had me at asparagus….then there was the ricotta. *love*
What a lovely tart! And it’s too bad you’re family is so spread out because they’re missing out on a fantastic Mother’s Day get together with food like this! And love the addition of prosciutto, which makes everything better.
What a beautiful tart and perfect for spring. Just lovely!
I’m making this! I’d serve with a Sauvignon Blanc from France, such as Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume!
I’ve made a few asparagus tarts this spring already too, they’re always so cheerful ^_^ I see this is through Stumbleupon, I wonder if we are SU buddies, will go and check now.
This is just lovely. Perfect for spring. Perfect for my face. That filling looks like it’s to die for.
Beautiful tart! Feels very springy and would be lovely for brunch on Mothers Day 🙂 I love the addittion of prosciutto.
Wowee (channeling you) Feels like you made this especially for me!! So gorgeous the crust, ricotta filling, everything! Looks so good and like the meat optional. wink:)
A perfect tart for spring!
I have my fork ready. You know the way right?
I truly can’t think of a better way to enjoy asparagus. What a gorgeous tart! If your family knew what was good for them, they would be pounding down your door on Mother’s Day for a bite of this.
I just finished dinner and I’m drooling. This looks wonderful! Can you tell Mike to make it for me on Sunday? Pity peas?
This looks terrific and will grace my table at Mother’s day this year!
Oh, my! What an absolutely beautiful tart. I really love every single thing about this gorgeous recipe. The asparagus, the prosciutto, the ricotta and the lovely pate brissee. This one’s decidedly a winner.
I love asparagus! We even have an asparagus festival up in Mason County! Love your fancy tart….asparagus with ricotta sounds like a marriage made in heaven!
Stunning tart, love the pop of color from the asparagus!!
sweetlife
It looks so pretty! A perfect seasonal and festive dish 🙂
Be still my heart! Just look at that beautiful creation!
Can this look any yummier??? I’m not a mom, but I’ll pretend to be one to get this.
What a lovely, seasonal tart! And the pictures are gorgeous! Can’t wait to give this a try!